Prevention is better than the cure is an old adage the Ministry of Health continues to prescribe to in light of the recent deaths from meningococcal disease.

12 Fijians have been killed by the bacterial infection since last year with scores infected.

The public is being urged to be vigilant of how meningococcal disease is spread through intimate contact, the transfer of saliva from an infected person and to refrain from sharing drinking utensils.

Health Minister Dr. Iferemi Waqainabete says while they responded to the outbreak last year with a vaccination campaign for all 1 to 19-year-olds, immunization doesn’t work for everybody.

“Unfortunately we cannot pick whose going to have strong immunity and who doesn’t and so we have to be cautious. I am grateful that we have an immunization program, a vaccination program that’s very well covered. We did a Men-C vaccination last year but we have to be mindful of the fact that we still have to be cautious.”

Anyone showing symptoms of the disease which includes a high fever, nausea and a rash red and or purple are urged to get medical attention as soon as possible.